Kejimkujik, Volume 2

I got home on Sunday night, but later than I planned so I was too tired last night for blogging. I did have a good trip, but I didn't get as many pictures this time.

It was foggy coming into Digby on Friday.

My Sis, Brother-In-Law and the pooch picked me up at the terminal and we headed straight for Kejimkujik.

It was hot and sunny - too hot really - when we arrived. We thought our site looked small, but it was very private so we decided to go ahead and set up. It turned out to be a great spot - you really had to look to see other sites around us.

We were all pretty worn out from the heat by the time we got set up.

After a break, we headed down to the beach for a swim. The water was so warm, and it was just what we needed. After our swim we headed back to our site for supper.

Brother-In-Law had bought Buffalo burgers. None of us had ever tried them before. As it turns out, Sis & I didn't like them at all. We did try, but we really weren't enjoying them. So BIL & Pooch had extra burgers while Sis & I ended up having sausages.

Sis did have a nice surprise for me though; she brought cherries from the trees at home.

Later on, we had visitors. One of my cousins who now lives in Toronto brought his wife down to tour around Nova Scotia. They came and got a campsite for the night. It's been quite a few years since we've had a chance to visit.

We took our cousin's wife for a walk around the park. Then we stayed up late, sitting around the fire and talking. After our late night, we were late having breakfast on Saturday morning. We did have a visitor during our late breakfast though - we could hear him pecking away above our heads.

After a leisurely breakfast and some more talking, we went back to the beach for more swimming. We saw about a dozen loons on the lake while we were down there. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera. Nor did I have it later when my sister and I were walking to the showers and a deer crossed the road right in front of us. It paused part way across, looked us in the face, then continued on it's way.

After swimming, my cousin and his wife took off to go visit with his parents. Sis & I had a snack and tried to convince ourselves we should go for a walk, but we were feeling pretty lazy. So we ended up just relaxing at the site for the rest of the day and having a late supper. Then spent the rest of the night sitting around the campfire.

All in all it was a relaxing trip. Unfortunately, it took us a bit longer than anticipated to get packed up and on the road on Sunday morning. So I missed the 1:00 ferry to Saint John (just by a hair). We ended up hanging around Digby for the afternoon. We kept ourselves entertained, but it meant it was after midnight when I got home Sunday night and I had to get up and go to work in the morning. I was tired.

But, I had a good night's sleep last night and I'm feeling better.

Kejimkujik photos, take 2

I know I said I'd post these earlier, but the weekend ended up being busier than expected. So, continuing on from where I left off in this post, more photos...(Trying out this Windows Live Writer thing to see if I like it.)

Our campsite:

Backing up a bit, you can see the van parked at the entrance to the site. At night, we'd back it in and there is a bed in the back of the van which is where I slept. Sis & BIL had the tent.

As I mentioned, on our second day we went to Mill Falls. There is a look-off area that looks out over the falls. That is my sister standing at the fence.

From here, we walked up the trail.

We came up evidence of the resident beavers.

There is a floating bridge across the river.

You can feel it bobbing up and down in the water as you walk across. Sis says they have to coax the dog because she really doesn't like it.

On the other side of the bridge, we came to the start of the Beech Grove trail. The walking trails in the park are quite nice, there are interpretive walks that you can do. You will come across the odd bench along the way, or sometimes even picnic areas.

My sister wanted me to get inside the hollow so she could take a picture. I probably could have stuffed myself in there, but my strong aversion to creepy crawlies just wouldn't let me to do it...Even though I couldn't see any, I could see a web at the top and I was too much of a wimp. (Rare occasion here, an actual picture of me, but I thought you might get tired of trees, trees, and more trees...)

Coming back, this is the view of the Mill Falls look-off from the other side of the river.

My last morning, we went for a walk along the trail from Slapfoot beach toward the Jim Charles campground area. It was a damp morning, which made it easier to leave. I never want to leave and head for home when it is bright and sunny.

Also, wanted to say thanks to everyone for the comments on Friday's post. I know I am doing the best I can, working out and trying to eat healthy. Sometimes things just get to me. But I'm hanging in. Eventually I'm sure I'll get back to the weight-loss blogging, but for now it seems like there are usually more interesting things to talk about.

That JavaChick...

Where was she and what was she up to?

Inquiring minds want to know!

Or so I like to imagine.

At long last you will find out as I present a photo-journal of my mini-vacation.

Can you stand the excitement? I know! Crazy, right?

Any-way.

I took the ferry home to Nova Scotia.



See? There I am standing on the deck. It was a beautiful sunny day.



My sister picked me up at the ferry terminal in Digby. The ferry got in at noon, so we decided to go for lunch. We strolled the main street and decided on The Shoreline Restaurant.

When we first walked in the door, all we could see was gift shop. The restaurant was tucked away at the back, which makes sense because there you have a view of the water. We ate out on the patio. Service was fast, food was not fancy but was excellent.



Once we finished eating we browsed around the gift shop. They sell fudge in a number of flavours. I can personally attest that the Peanut Butter-Chocolate, Chocolate Coconut and Cappuccino flavours and very tasty indeed.

After some wandering around gift shops we headed home. Had to get there in time for:



Our baby brother's high school graduation! We are so proud. It was tough for him, he has High Functioning Autism. He graduated with Honours. Did I mention? Proud!

Friday morning I took some time to walk around and take some pictures of home. This is where I grew up. And where my Dad grew up. And my grandfather grew up. It's home.



And this is what I call a back yard. All the way down through the field and into the woods. We had lots of space to play.



My Dad likes to grow grapes. I love how the vines look.



My Sister, Brother-In-Law and I packed up the camper van and loaded on the canoe.



This patient pooch sat in the van all morning while we got ready to go. No chance she was being left behind.



She knew where we were headed...



My family has been camping at Kejimkujik National Park for as long as I can remember. After all these years, driving into the park feels like coming home.

We hit some construction along the way...



But we got there.



We were greeted with a wildlife display right off.







We actually saw a fawn a couple of times but never managed to get a picture. So tiny, so adorable with the white spots. Bolted easily though. Hence the lack of pictures. Sorry.

Saturday morning we took the canoe out.



We paddled across the lake from Heber's Meadow Beach to Indian Point. There we went ashore for a stroll.

See! There I am on the beach!



If you visit Kejimkujik at the right time of year, and explore the right areas, you will see itty bitty toads hopping around.



After lunch we headed to Mill Falls. We walked a bit of the trail there, and then ended up walking the entire Beech Grove trail (2.2 km).



I do have a picture of our camp site, but it's on my spare memory card. My spare card is a 2 GB card which my card reader won't read (hence 2 GB is spare while 1 GB is regularly used). We did pick up a new card reader, but it was defective and we have to take it back. If I get a replacement sometime soon, I will post a picture of the camp site. And of course I have many more pictures of trees, river, lake, trails...Gotta love digital cameras. You can be as snap-happy as you want as long as you've got enough memory.

I came home on Sunday afternoon. If I had been thinking when I planned my trip, I could have stayed for an extra night. But, Husband gets lonely if I leave him alone too long. And he always makes sure to tell me that Fred missed me and moped the whole time I was gone (nothing like a guilt trip to make sure you come home early). So, I decided to stick with my original time-table and come home on Sunday.

It was nice having Monday and Tuesday at home anyway, with nothing much to do. Aside from grocery shopping, weeding my garden and doing some laundry, I did some serious goofing off. Very enjoyable.

Now I just have to get out of goof-off mode.